Own warehouse network in Africa ensures safe delivery

Eugene Loubser É controlling warehouse operations in various African countries. Leonard Neill OPERATING OWN warehouses in different African countries to ensure full control of the consignments being delivered there from South Africa is the way to go in the interests of safe deliveries, says Cargo Convey's Eugene Loubser. The company started four years ago to handle all the transportation and delivery of household furniture and appliances for a major South African manufacturer. "We distributed all their products including stationery and computers needed at their various outlets in other countries," says Loubser. "This led to the establishment of a follow-up company, African Distribution Centre (ADC), under which we opened centralised warehouses in various African countries in order to distribute products more cost-effectively to around 50 stores inside those countries." A full logistics operation is handled from the company's Pomona headquarters. Cargo Convey is currently exporting into the BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) as well as Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. ADC has warehouses in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. Africa-Wide Van Lines vehicles which handle all transportation are Ôthe longest, highest, widest legally on the roads everywhere', according to Loubser. With a 135cu/m volume, each carries the equivalent of two and a half 40ft container loads. Outside the BLNS region, Zambia and Malawi are served by road, but the other countries are served by sea, with vehicles collecting consignments at the major ports. One restriction, says Loubser, is that no driving is allowed at night for safety and security reasons.